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Dr. Elizabeth AKinyi Owino

Director of Quality Assurance
Acting Dean - School of Education

Dr. Elizabeth A. Owino is the Director of Quality Assurance at the University of Kigali. She has been in higher Education for over 13 years out of which 7 were dedicated as an ISO champion at Moi University, Kenya. Dr. Owino holds a Ph. D in Educational Psychology with a bias in socio-emotional development. She also has a Master of Philosophy Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Medical Geography and a Higher Diploma in Counseling Psychology. She has a number of trainings in quality assurance, management, mediation amongst others. Dr. Owino is an author and has published in a number of refereed journals.

Chair of Women Network of East Africa (WNEA)
WNEA is part of a larger African Women Network (AWEN) which is divided into sub-regions. The sub – regional networks which form AWEN are Western Africa (WAWEN), Central Africa (RESAC), Eastern Africa (WNEA) and Southern Africa (SAWEN). WNEA was formed in 2004 in Kampala and officially launched in 2006 at Njuweni Hotel, Kibaha, Tanzania. This sub –regional network is made up of women and some men colleagues from the following EI affiliate unions: TAE, ETA, KNUT, TTU, UNATU, ZATU, GTU, KUPPET, UASU, SNUT and SEP.

The network provides a platform where by women from the education sector among other issues: Share experiences on gender equality issues, strengthen solidarity among women teachers and educational workers, disseminate best practices in gender mainstreaming in the unions’ policies/constitutions and increase political will in unions leadership on gender equality. Its main goal is: to increase the participation of women in the Union, education and other public leadership roles.

Member of African Women in Education Network Board (AWEN)
The main Goal of AWEN is “promote gender equality in Educational Institutions unions in order to strengthen them for the achievement of quality education. AWEN has three domains of interventions: to arouse the political-will of decision makers to take into consideration the strategic needs of women in the professional and union structures; favor a better communication between the women networks and reinforce the capacities of females in educational unions.
Ad hoc Member of Educational International Research representing Africa
The mandate was to support research activities that are:
Relevant- supports quality education around the world in both professional and industrial realms;
Focused- provides evidence to develop policy and advocacy strategies that work across the four pillars of the strategic plan;
Flexible—develops capability both in EI and its members organizations to respond to the ever changing face of education;
Forward looking – provides a mechanism to scan the horizon for upcoming issues that require evidence for member organizations to effectively respond;
Clear- provides definition/delineation around the purview of the Executive Board and the
General Secretary in providing research direction based on Congress mandates;
Cost-conscious- builds understanding around the total costs for research, including contracting,
translation, publishing and dissemination costs;

Distance and Open Education Learning East Africa Board (DOLPEA

Executive Member of the board and the Vice chair of the Research Team. DOLPEA is an inclusive civil society association forum for East African individuals who are interested and /or are involved in Open and /or Distance Learning (ODEL)

Chair of Education Committee | Diocese of Eldoret, Anglican Church of Kenya| 2023 –2024

Successfully led a team of 15 education professionals as Chair of the Education Committee, overseeing the development and implementation of policies that positively impacted over 50
schools within the Diocese of Eldoret Anglican Church, resulting in a 30% increase in academic performance and a 25% reduction in disciplinary incidents over a 3-year period; Guided and empowered 500+ students through personalized counseling sessions, utilizing
evidence-based strategies, resulting in a 95% student retention rate and a 20% increase in overall student satisfaction, as measured through pre- and post-counseling surveys, over a span of 5 years;
Drove a community-wide mental health awareness campaign, collaborating with local media and organizing seminars that reached 1,000+ individuals across the Diocese. Survey results indicated
a 50% increase in awareness and a 35% rise in seeking professional mental health services among attendees, contributing to a more informed and supportive community.

Rwandan Quality Assurance Network (RWAQAN) Member of the Executive board in charge of quality culture.
Country Liaison (Kenya); Child Education International

Affiliations

  • Toastmasters International
  • African Network of Internationalization of Education (ANIE)
  • East African Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN)
  • Kenya Counseling and Psychological (KCPA)
  • Kenya Guidance and Counselors and Psychological Association (KGCPA)

 

Journals

  1. Mucherah, W., & Owino, E. (2016). Using the sociocultural theory to explain the perceptions of homosexuality among Kenyan and US University students. Journal of black sexuality and relationships3(2), 1-23.
  2. Owino, E. A. (2015). Assessment of Service Delivery in Guidance and Counselling Units in Selected Secondary Schools in Eldoret Municipality, Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice6(19), 29-42.
  3. Mucherah, W., Owino, E., & McCoy, K. (2016). Grappling with the issue of homosexuality: perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs among high school students in Kenya. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 253-262.
  4. Kodero, H. M., Misigo, B. L., Owino, E. A., & Simiyu, C. K. (2011). The salient characteristics of trained ineffective teachers in secondary schools in Kenya. Sage Open1(3), 2158244011434102.
  5. Owino, E., & Lwala, D. D. (2024). Unified Growth: Empowering University Graduate Students through Online Supervision, Collaboration and Mentorship. Journal of Contemporary Issues in Open Distance and E-Learning1(1).
  6. Owino, E. A. (2014). An exploration of nature of guidance and counseling services in selected secondary schools in Eldoret municipality, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies5(1), 65-72.
  7. Owino, E. A. (2018). The moderating effect of preschool class size on children’s socio-emotional competences in Eldoret Town, Kenya. Journal of African Studies in Educational Management and Leadership9, 34-49.
  8. Owino, E. A., Kodero, H., & Ruto-Korir, R. (2017). The Influence of Preschool Teachers’ Gender on Strategies to Scaffold Socio-Emotional Competence (SEC) in Children in Eldoret Town, Kenya. African Journal of Education4(2).
  9. Owino, E. A., Kodero, H. N., & Korir, R. R. (2017). Effect Of Preschool Teachers Experience On Strategies To Scaffold Socioemotional Competence Among Preschool Children. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation5(1), 56-66.
  10. Owino, E. A., & Wamunga, F. W. (2014). An Investigation Into Types And Effects Of Human Diseases Associated With Tourism On Local Communities In And Around The Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. International Journal2(2), 713-728.
  11. Owino, E. A., & Wamunga, F. W. (2014). An Assessment of the Level of Awareness of the CCInfluence of Tourism on the Health Conditions of Locals in and Around the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya(Doctoral dissertation, IJHSS).
  12. Kodero, H. M., Misigo, B. L., Owino, E. A., & Mucherah, W. (2011). Perceptions of students on homosexuality in secondary schools in Kenya. International Journal of Current Research3(7), 279-284.
  13. D’Amour, N. J., & Owino, E. A. (2025). The Effectiveness of Debate in Developing English Communication Skills among Secondary Students in Burera District, Rwanda. Journal of research Innovations and Implications in Education. (Online) 9, (I), pp. 362 – 380

Book chapters:

 Effective strategies for rehabilitating street children: A naturalistic study’ published in Perspective on Selected Critical Gender Issues in Kenya and Beyond, 2011.

  1. ‘Children in street-based prostitution’. Published in Gender, Sexuality and the Media: a question of Accountability, 2013.
  2. Owino, E.A., & Lwala, D. (2025). Women in Higher education Management in Africa: Trends, Policies and Practices. Routledge Handbook of Contemporary African Women. New York: Routledge.
  3. Kagan, M. O., Owino, E., Masese, E. R., & Rey, J. (2024). Adopting and Adapting Waldorf Education: Returning to the Roots Through Waldorf Education in Kenya. In Critically Assessing the Reputation of Waldorf Education in Academia and the Public: Recent Developments the World Over, 1987–2004(pp. 91-111). Routledge.

Books

  1. Akinyi-Owino, E. (2020). Socioemotional Competence in Children. The Often- Missing link. Nairobi: Zion Pearl Publishers.
  2. Akinyi-Owino, Murwayi, A, & Opiyo, R. (2021). Assessment of Gender representation among teacher unions in Eastern Africa: WNEA baseline survey report 2019-2021. Nairobi: Zion Pearl Publishers.

Dr. Elizabeth AKinyi Owino

Director of Quality Assurance
Acting Dean - School of Education

Dr. Elizabeth A. Owino is the Director of Quality Assurance at the University of Kigali. She has been in higher Education for over 13 years out of which 7 were dedicated as an ISO champion at Moi University, Kenya. Dr. Owino holds a Ph. D in Educational Psychology with a bias in socio-emotional development. She also has a Master of Philosophy Degree in Guidance and Counseling, Medical Geography and a Higher Diploma in Counseling Psychology. She has a number of trainings in quality assurance, management, mediation amongst others. Dr. Owino is an author and has published in a number of refereed journals.

Chair of Women Network of East Africa (WNEA)
WNEA is part of a larger African Women Network (AWEN) which is divided into sub-regions. The sub – regional networks which form AWEN are Western Africa (WAWEN), Central Africa (RESAC), Eastern Africa (WNEA) and Southern Africa (SAWEN). WNEA was formed in 2004 in Kampala and officially launched in 2006 at Njuweni Hotel, Kibaha, Tanzania. This sub –regional network is made up of women and some men colleagues from the following EI affiliate unions: TAE, ETA, KNUT, TTU, UNATU, ZATU, GTU, KUPPET, UASU, SNUT and SEP.

The network provides a platform where by women from the education sector among other issues: Share experiences on gender equality issues, strengthen solidarity among women teachers and educational workers, disseminate best practices in gender mainstreaming in the unions’ policies/constitutions and increase political will in unions leadership on gender equality. Its main goal is: to increase the participation of women in the Union, education and other public leadership roles.

Member of African Women in Education Network Board (AWEN)
The main Goal of AWEN is “promote gender equality in Educational Institutions unions in order to strengthen them for the achievement of quality education. AWEN has three domains of interventions: to arouse the political-will of decision makers to take into consideration the strategic needs of women in the professional and union structures; favor a better communication between the women networks and reinforce the capacities of females in educational unions.
Ad hoc Member of Educational International Research representing Africa
The mandate was to support research activities that are:
Relevant- supports quality education around the world in both professional and industrial realms;
Focused- provides evidence to develop policy and advocacy strategies that work across the four pillars of the strategic plan;
Flexible—develops capability both in EI and its members organizations to respond to the ever changing face of education;
Forward looking – provides a mechanism to scan the horizon for upcoming issues that require evidence for member organizations to effectively respond;
Clear- provides definition/delineation around the purview of the Executive Board and the
General Secretary in providing research direction based on Congress mandates;
Cost-conscious- builds understanding around the total costs for research, including contracting,
translation, publishing and dissemination costs;

Distance and Open Education Learning East Africa Board (DOLPEA

Executive Member of the board and the Vice chair of the Research Team. DOLPEA is an inclusive civil society association forum for East African individuals who are interested and /or are involved in Open and /or Distance Learning (ODEL)

Chair of Education Committee | Diocese of Eldoret, Anglican Church of Kenya| 2023 –2024

Successfully led a team of 15 education professionals as Chair of the Education Committee, overseeing the development and implementation of policies that positively impacted over 50
schools within the Diocese of Eldoret Anglican Church, resulting in a 30% increase in academic performance and a 25% reduction in disciplinary incidents over a 3-year period; Guided and empowered 500+ students through personalized counseling sessions, utilizing
evidence-based strategies, resulting in a 95% student retention rate and a 20% increase in overall student satisfaction, as measured through pre- and post-counseling surveys, over a span of 5 years;
Drove a community-wide mental health awareness campaign, collaborating with local media and organizing seminars that reached 1,000+ individuals across the Diocese. Survey results indicated
a 50% increase in awareness and a 35% rise in seeking professional mental health services among attendees, contributing to a more informed and supportive community.

Rwandan Quality Assurance Network (RWAQAN) Member of the Executive board in charge of quality culture.
Country Liaison (Kenya); Child Education International

Affiliations

  • Toastmasters International
  • African Network of Internationalization of Education (ANIE)
  • East African Quality Assurance Network (EAQAN)
  • Kenya Counseling and Psychological (KCPA)
  • Kenya Guidance and Counselors and Psychological Association (KGCPA)